Heat treatment chamber



Oct. 30, 1934. w. A. MORTON Er Al.

HEATTREATMENT CHAMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Feb. 25, 1928 Oct. 30, 1934. w. A, MoRToN ET Al.

HEAT TREATMENT CHAMBR Original Filed Feb. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet w v Y l INVENTORS' QQ( 21%, W

Patented oct ao, ical t m7992235 tra - srafres'feared nicaA corporated, Pittsburgh, Pal,Y a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application February 25, 1928, SerialNo.

256,856. Divided 4and this Yapplication October` 17, 1931, Serial No. 569,432

This zapp-lication is a division `o1 cur patent tending'through the full length of the lehr tunapplication lSerial Number' 256,856, led Februnel, in our improved lehr We employ a plurality ary 25,1928. of sets'oi endless conveyers which may he belts Onetof the objects which we have in View is or chains and whose ends are so associated that be treated may be introduced `into the heat-treatnumber of such sets may be determined by the ment chamber in single le or as received and length of the lehrtunnel or chamber and each then distributed fori substantially the full interconveyer or set of conveyers is short enough to nal width of the chamber. We are thus enabled substantially localize the zones of heat translil to utilizethe full capacity of the chamber. ference so as to minimize such loss. 65

For this purpose We provide an intake conveyer As a suitable form of conveyer for the purof less cross-sectional area but traveling at poses ol my improved lehr, We have invented a greater speed thanthe conveyer to which it deconveyer comprising a plurality of sets of endless livers thearticles,:together with means for transconveying chains, the members composing the lriferring'thearticlesfrom theintake conveyer to sets being in parallelism and carried at their 70 the receivingLconveyer anddistributingthe artiends on axially alined sprockets, and the sprockcles over theentire.effective` Widthof the cham' ets for the adjacentends of two sets being alber. ternately arranged on a common shaft.

We' are also enabled to provide a relatively Thus 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d represent four sets of Lnarrow'intake opening in the front of the 'champarallel conveying chains, having `their ends car- 75 ber, thus eliminating a very substantialheat loss. ried on sprockets designated generally bythe nu- Another `object Whichwe have in view is the..meral 6', and at the adjacent ends of said sets maintenance of heat uniformity in the articles the sprockets which carry the chains of one set during the `heat-treatment operation., and We acare alternately 'arranged on a shaft with the c'omplish this by delivering the article by means sprockets of the other set, so that the chains of 80 of a relatively hghzspeed intakeconveyer to a adjacent sets are interlaced at their ends and more slowlyinoving chamber conveyer, thus causthus form in effect a continuous interlocked coning the articles to be arrange in juxtaeposition. veying surface.

Other novel featuresoii design and construc- The sprockets carrying the rear end of the `tion, andv also of Ythe .arrangement of parte will rear or discharge conveyer comprising the chains 85 appear flOln the fOllOWIgdSSCrption. 5a are fast on a shaft 7 which is journaled in In the accompanying drawings wherein we have bearings 8 beyond the discharge end of the tunillustrated a practical embodiment of the prinnel; and said shaft is rotated at proper speed in ciples of our invention in connectionwith a lehr a, direction which is Clockwise in Fjg 1 Thus "fl annealllgiglafiwal'e, Fig. `l S 2, VEltlCl SBC- the end of Said Shaft is provided with a, driving 90 tOl 0f the" 18111" 'takn-alongthe lle-lin sprocket 9 connected by a chain l0 to a speed Fie. 2; Fg- 2 a hOliZOnl SetOn taken 10mg reducer 11 which in turn is connected by a chain the line 2 2 in Fig. l; 3 221 enlalged 'Okel 12 with a variable speed transmission mecha- View partiallyiin elevation and partially in section msm 1 3 which in tum is driven by a motor M of the front conveyer shaft withinthe lehr and 15 16 17 and 18 represent shafts disposed 9c certain of the spmckets thereon; Fig' 4 an en' transversely of the chamber or lehr tunnel and larged detail showing two of the conveyer shafts having their ends journaled in the Side Walls amthe. ascite. pal aging-Fig 5 a diagram' thereof, the ends of the shafts protruding at one ma 1c view 1 usra mge rive. L.

i Referring to .the drawings, the lehr tunnel or 'eterhamber for moummg dnvmg spwk chamber is built of suitable 'material which is Y The protruding end of the shaft 15 1s provided i i y. non conductlve o heat, and comprises the base with a large sprocket 19 Whlch 1S connected by t f 2 '-d the roof 3. The' rear Vor isucgeguf titunnel is preferably Open a chain 26 vvith a like sprocket 2.1 on the shaft lfor its full width to permit the 4extension of the '7, thus drh/111g Shafts '7 and 15 in unison, and conveyer theretln'otuih,` but .thefront Ior intake pefel'lbly all the Same Speed. THB Shaft l5 1S end of the tunnel is closed except for a relatively provided with a Second and smaller .Sprocket 22 narrow central opening 4 through .which the inwhich is connected by a chain 23 With a larger take conveyer extends.' sprocket 24 on the shaft 16. The shaft 16 is I Instead of the lusual single endless conveyer er1-vy further DlOVded With 2 Smaller SDI'OCRPt 25 Which 110 theprovisicn of means whereby the articles to the articles travel from one to the next. The

is connected by a chain 26 with a larger sprocket 27 on the shaft 17.

It is thus apparent that the shafts 15, 16 and 17 are driven from the shaft 7 but at progressively lessened speed.

The shaft 17 is further provided with a smaller sprocket 28 which is connected by a chain 29 with a sprocket 30 of a variable speed transmission device 31 which in turn is coupled to the protruding end of the shaft 18.

The shaft 18 is driven at a greater speed than the shaft 17 for a purpose to be more fully described, and its relative speed may be regulated.

The sprockets which carry the front ends of the conveyer chains 5a are loose on the shaft 15, while the sprockets which carry the rear ends of the chains 5b are fast on the shaft 15. The sprockets which carry the fro-nt ends of the chains 5b are loose on the shaft 16 while the sprockets which carry the rear ends of the chains 5c are fast on the shaft 16. The sprockets which carry the front ends of the chains 5c are loose on the shaft 17 while the sprockets which carry the rear ends of the chains 5d are fast on the '--shaft 17. The sprockets which carry the front ends of the chains 5d, indicated at 6a in Fig. 3 are loose on the shaft 18 and alternating on shaft 18 between the sprockets 6a on the central portion of shaft v18 are the sprockets 6b which are 30 fast on the shaft 18 and which carry the rear or inner ends of the chains 5e which form the intake conveyer and which extend forwardly through the front opening 4. At their front ends the chains 5e are carried by sprockets 6c which are carried by a shaft 32 whose ends are journaled in a Stand 33 mounted on and vertically adjustable relatively to a base 34.

Within the front end of the lehr tunnel and at either side of the intake conveyer a horizontal transfer table 35 is mounted, and suitable means are provided for transferring the ware from the intake conveyer across said table to the conveyer chains 5d.

Thus we may provide an oscillating sweeper arm 36 fixed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 37 depending through the roof of the tunnel and journaled in a suitable stand 38 mounted on the roof. The upper end of the shaft 37 is provided with a beveled pinion 39 which is engaged by two oppositely arranged, interrupted beveled pinions 40 fast on a horizontal shaft 41 which is driven in a constant direction as by a motor 42. The arm 36 is thus caused to swing alternately in opposite directions over the intake conveyer, the transfer tables and the front ends of the conveyer chains 5d.

The side surfaces of the arm 36 are conformed to properly engage the ware. Thus they may be provided with recesses 43 to t the sides of the ware, an arm with properly shaped recesses being substituted to suit the particular ware to be introduced into the lehr. The tables 35 are provided with arcuate guides 44 to assist in maintaining the ware in proper paths while being transferred.

We provide means for supplying the necessary heat to the front portion of the lehr for the annealing operation.

Thus 45 represents combustion chamber eX- tending under the front of the lehr tunnel, a removable metal plate 46 forming the roof of the chamber and the floor of the tunnel and said plate being aperturedas at 47 for the admission of heat to the tunnel. 48 is a gas burner extending into the front end of the chamber 45. A

flue 49 extends rearwardly from the chamber 36 under the tunnel, the roof-floor being formed by the removable plates 50. At its outer end the ue 49 is connected to an exhauster 51 coupled upv to the variable speed transmission mechanism 13.

52 represents metal boxes which forms the roof of the rear or discharge end of the tunnel and have perforated floors. Each of said boxes is connected by a pipe 53, provided with a valve 54 with a header pipe 55 which is connected to a blower 56 driven by a chain 57 leading to the speed reducer 11. Thus air may be introduced into the tunnel for the proper reduction of the temperature, such introduction being controlled and graduated by means of the valves 54.

It is evident that by properly proportioning the relative speeds of the chains of the intake conveyer and of the chains of the lehr conveyers and employing the transfer device for receiving the intaken article and depositing it on the lehr conveyers, the full capacity of the lehr may be utilized and the output of the same may be greatly increased without increasing the length of the lehr. This works a decided economy of valuable factory space and also an economy in fuel consumption.

1t is further evident that the aggregate temperature loss attending the operation of the lehr is greatly reduced and consequently the amount of heat replacement required is correspondingly lessened.

It is further evident that owing to the relatively fast speed of the intake conveyer compa red to that of the chains 5d the articles will be arranged in close juXta-position on the chains 5d and will thus be maintained at substantially uniform temperature while traveling on said chains. The arrangement whereby the chains progressively increase in speed of travel toward the rear or discharge endof the chamber results in the gradual separation of the articles as they approach the discharge or cooling end of the chamber, thus facilitating the cooling of the articles.

What we desire to claim is:-

1. In an article heat treating furnace and loader combination, the arrangement which comprises a lehr tunnel, a conveyer for passing articles therethrough, a loader conveyer entering the open end of said tunnel in overlapping relation with the rst named conveyer, means for operating the said last named conveyer at a greater delivery speed than the speed of the said first named conveyer and means for periodically moving the articles laterally from the loader conveyer to deposit them upon the rst named conveyer.

2. In an article heat treating furnace and loader combination, the arrangement which comprises a lehr tunnel, an endless conveyer for passing articles therethrough, an endless loader conveyer yentering the open end of said tunnel and travelling in a Xed path, the inner end of the loader conveyer turning about the same axis as the adjacent end of the rst named conveyer, means for operating the conveyors at relatively different speeds and means for periodically moving the articles laterally from the loader conveyer to deposit them upon the first named conveyer.

3. In an article heat treating furnace and loader combination, the arrangement which comprises a tunnel, a conveyer for passing the articles through said tunnel, a loader conveyer delivering the articles to the tunnel, the inner end of the loader conveyer and the receiving end of the articles Klaterally Vrrorrn the s intake conveyer Lavamat the*-rstenarnedfconveyer bengrzin:overlappingoiforcperiodically .removingnarticles .from :the inf conveyersifto `trans'lerf:thearticlesilaterallyi:froininveyennie:ans;'said means Ldepositing saidarticles the loader` conveyer to the tunnel'nonveyenf.:

4. .En an :articlerheat- .treatingifurnacelandzloada prises ai. tunnel, a conveyer :for'fpassingithezarti eles `through :saidutunnelga ia loaderf,conveyerE idea.

livering the iarticlesto theftunnel; ranearnr ".oseil alternately-fonceithereside 4of f the center. of said conveyer :meansazu` "'latingrbetweenlsaidiconveyersto transfer thear-archamber of narrower effective cross-sectional ticles laterallyircrnrtheioader conveyenato thexucapacity and traveling at greater speed than said tunnel` conveyer `and 4means :onzthefarnr for: spacer: chamberueorlveyer.I 'means .and alined. therewith, ingfthearticles laterally across.theltunnelrcon-w said intakelzconveyer 4being .arranged to travel Veyeiz in -a fixed .pathptheiadjacentsends of :thetwo` 5. Theieombinationsof'ahead-treatmentfchama: conveyel's'being. in .overlapping relaticrryand ber, conveyer meansarrangedto cause the articlesif :means` '.including1:a swingingetransfer arm :for to travel .through .the-v'chamberaan `intake conveyer extendinginto theifront: end of theichamber-of 'i narrower-'f effective crossesectional; capacity. and: traveling at 1` greater i speed thanJ said. conveyer.

relation` across. the conveyer means.'

115 In Aa combined .articlelieat-treating furmeans fa-nd :alined therewith, "said;intakerxcona;

veyerflbeingfarranged-to travelwin a fixed-apathy. theadjacent ends of theftwo Aconveyens being'in .1

.nacemandrloaderstructure; the combination of `a tunne1,-a highaspeed 'loader conveyer extending.

into the receivingendzof the tunnel for the introoverlappingfrelation,vandfmeans:ortranserringrwductionc'of rtheiarticles to be heatetreated said loa'der".conveyerrbeingarranged to .travel in a 100.1'- xed path;4 a lowspeedmain. conveyer for con-.1. ducting' the .articles .throughsV the tunnel, andi..` means :.-for i. Atransferringz the i .articles from the.

to -said conveyer means..

6. Thecombination of aiheat-treatment cham-: Y

ber; 'conveyer means arrangedto tcausathe articleseto travellfthrough --thechamben an :intake 2. 30 conveyer extending into the front end of their chamberiof narrower-effective cross-sectional capacity and traveling at greater speed than said conveyer means and alined therewith, said intake conveyer being arranged to travel in a xed path.

ithe adjacent ends of the two conveyers being in overlapping relation, and means for removing articles longitudinally alined on the intake conveyer and depositing them on said conveyer means in transverse alinement thereon.

l 7. The combination of a heat-treatment cham ber, conveyer means arranged to cause the articles to travel through the chamber, an intake conveyer extending into the front end of the chamber of narrower effective cross-sectional capacity and traveling at greater speed than said conveyer means and alined therewith, said intake conveyer being arranged to travel in a xed path, the adjacent ends of the two conveyers being in overlapping relation, and a swinging trans- 'er device arranged to remove the articles from the intake conveyer and deposit them on said conveyer means.

8. The combination of a heat-treatment chamber, conveyer means arranged to cause theartisfcles to travel through the chamber, an intake conveyer extending into the front end of the chamber of narrower effective cross-sectional capacity and traveling at greater speed than said conveyer means and alined therewith, said inetake conveyer being arranged to travel in a nxed path, the adjacent ends of the two conveyers being in overlapping relation, and means for periodically removing the articles from the intake conveyer and depositing them on said conveyer means yeyers being in overlapping relation, and means 10.-lfheiifcombinationrxo i a .heat-treatment n ..chambery.conveyer.` means Aarranged .to cause the i. articlesi'to travel. throughithe chamber, an intake y convever;.aextending1` into' thelzfront s end of thev periodically; removing.. `the 4articles `from` the in- :take Irconveyer Landi. depositing 1 them in spaced- .-loa'deroonveyer to the main conveyer, saidmeans.

.comprisingian oscillatingfarm arranged to swingz overv the.` surface :of 4the 1. loader. conveyer .and :in V opposite directions to 'alternatelylmove articles to eitheruside` fronfrthefloader: conveyerandzalteri-g nately arrange them in rows on the main conveyer.

12. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer working in said tunnel and comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, a ware-delivery conveyer extending into the intake end of the tunnel and also comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, said delivery conveyer being arranged to travel in a fixed path and the ends of the chains of the delivery conveyer interlacing with the adjacent end of the chains of the main conveyer, and means arranged to swing over the delivery conveyer to sweep the articles laterally oif the delivery conveyer and to arrange said articles in rows on and transversely of the main conveyer.

13. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer working in said tunnel and comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, a waredelivery conveyer extending into the intake end of the tunnel and also comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, said delivery conveyer being arranged to travel in a fixed path and the ends of the chains of the delivery conveyer interlacing with the adjacent ends of the chains of the main conveyer, means arranged to swing over the delivery conveyer to sweep the articles laterally off the delivery conveyer and to arrange said articles in rows on and transversely of the main conveyer, and means for varying the elevation of the outer end of the delivery conveyer.

14. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer working in said tunnel and comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, a ware-delivery conveyer extending into the intake end of the tunnel and also comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, said delivery conveyer being arranged to travel in a fixed path and the ends of the chains of the delivery conveyer interlacing with the adjacent ends of the chains of the main conveyer, means arranged to swing over thedelivery conveyer to sweep the articles laterally off the delivery conveyer and to arrange said articles in rows on and transversely of the main conveyer, and means for causing the delivery conveyer to travel at a higher linear speed than the main conveyer.

15. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer within the tunnel and comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, a ware- 'delivery conveyer extending into the' intake end of the tunnel and also comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, and means comprising a member swinging on a substantially vertical axis and moving over the surface of the delivery conveyer and arranged to sweep articles laterally from the delivery conveyer and arrange said articles on the main conveyer in rows disposed transversely thereof.

16. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer within the tunnel and comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, a waredelivery conveyer extending into the intake end of the tunnel and also comprising a plurality of endless chains arranged in parallelism, and means comprising a member swinging on a substantially vertical axis and moving alternately in opposite directions over the surface of the delivery conveyer and arranged to sweep articles laterally from the delivery conveyer and arrange said articles on the main conveyer in rows disposed transversely thereof.

17. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer for causing the glassware to travel through said tunnel, a loader conveyer extending into said tunnel and axially alined with the rst named conveyer, and a transfer device mounted to swing on a substantially vertical axis over the loader conveyer and arranged by alternate movements `to sweep the articles rst in one direction and then in the other direction from the loader conveyer and to arrange them in rows on and transversely of the rst na'med conveyer.

18. In a tunnel lehr for annealing glassware, the combination of a tunnel, a main conveyer for causing the glassware to travel through said tunnel, a loader conveyer extending into said tunnel and axially alined with the iirst named conveyer, and atransfer device mounted to swing on a substantially vertical axis over the loader conveyer and arranged by alternate movements to sweep the articles rst in one direction and then in the other direction from the loader conveyer and to arrange them in rows on and transversely of the first named conveyer, the loader conveyer moving at a greater speed than the iirst named conveyer.

WILLIAM A. MORTON. PAUL L. GEER.

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